Vicar, who loved playing the panto dame, retires after 31 years

SERVICE with smile. It’s a phrase that fits The Reverend Paul Peverell as well as the ‘dog collar’ he’s got so used to wearing around his neck.

The man affectionately known as ‘Rev Pev’ retires this week after 31 years of bringing fun to his role in the pulpit, and the wider community, as Vicar of Great Ayton with Easby and Newton under Roseberry.

And he’ll take some topping in the landmark parish because magic tricks, funny hats (including a chimney pot and Christmas tree) plus a large collection of puppets, have all been part of the job.

As if that’s not enough, there’s also his reputation for appearing in pantomimes – most often as a much-loved pantomime Dame – that's endeared him to his parishioners.

Rev Paul Peverell as the panto dame (Image: Paul Peverell) Indeed, one of them, Ken Hudson, was moved to send an email, calling for a tribute to be published in honour of “a remarkable character who will be greatly missed in the parish, and beyond”.

So, with Paul’s final service approaching this weekend, here it is, Ken – at your service…

Paul Peverell, along with his sister Jackie, was born and raised in Redcar.

His father, John, worked at British Steel, and played an active role at St John’s Church, in the steel community of South Bank.

His mother, Nonie, also worked for British Steel, operating a comptometer – an early mechanical calculator.

Paul has fond memories of attending Sunday school at Zetland Park Methodist Church, where, as a seven-year-old, he performed in his first panto – Mother Goose – as Bill The Painter.

The Church always played a big part in his life, including volunteering at St Peter's youth club, near the seafront.

At 16, he followed his parents into British Steel, working as a clerk for four years before he felt the calling of the priesthood, and left to study theology at Hull University.

After two more years of study at Ripon College Cuddeson, near Oxford, it was back to Humberside for his first post as a curate, in Cottingham.

He spent a happy three years there before heading back to Teesside to become vicar at St Martin’s, in Whinney Banks, Middlesbrough.

“A tough area but a lovely church and great people,” he recalls.

It was during his time in Whinney Banks, while giving an assembly at a local primary school, that he was introduced by the head teacher as 'Rev Pev', and the name stuck.

It was also at St Martin’s that he met his wife-to-be, Karen. They were married by the Bishop of Whitby, Gordon Bates, at St Martin’s in 1991.

After eight rewarding years in Whinney Banks, Paul moved to his current parish in 1993, settling into The Vicarage in Great Ayton.

It was a tough time because the move coincided with the arrival of the couple's first child, David, who survived a life-threatening condition, having been born prematurely, which left him with cerebral palsy.

David's sister, Hannah, came along four years later, by which time Paul had immersed himself into the rural community.

His use of theatricality to engage audiences began with magic tricks at school assemblies, and evolved into puppetry.

“When you’re in one place for a long time, you have to keep reinventing yourself to keep it fresh,” he explains. “The kids got to know the magic tricks, so I had to move on to puppets.”

The first puppet he bought was a crow from a shop in Scarborough. When he added a second crow soon afterwards, he named them Ronnie and Reggie – The Crow Twins.

More and more puppets were added, including Jesus, Mary and Joseph, then a medieval set, featuring kings, queens, and Merlin.

A puppet bride came along to help officiate at weddings, and The Crow Twins were introduced to new animal friends, notably a donkey called Oatey.

“You must have heard of Donkey Oatey?” quips Paul, who perfected a range of funny voices for his puppets while out walking his dogs.

A puppet performance of Bethlehemian Rhapsody, in the style of Queen, became a church hit, and the characters were also used to introduce Christmas carols on the village green.

In the midst of it all, Paul had been persuaded to join the cast of the pantomime, brilliantly staged each year by the Bradley School of Dance and Musical Theatre, at Christ Church village hall.

Having made his debut as The Queen, in Sleeping Beauty, he's gone on to appear in 16 pantos, with roles including Widow Twankey, Dame Trott, Nurse Penny Cillin, Scrooge, Fagin, and an evil Captain Hook.

(Image: Paul Peverell) "I loved it from the start. I suppose I just enjoy being out front and getting a buzz from hearing an audience laugh," he says.

"Being in a panto is much harder than giving a sermon because you're feeding other people their lines, but it's a drug.

"You have to make church services welcoming and fun, and I'm sure it's helped attract new people over the years."

Now in his 68th year, Paul has decided it's time to retire, and make way for a new vicar.

"I've reached the stage where I'm feeling tired, and it needs someone with fresh ideas and energy," he admits.

"Living on the job is fulfilling but exhausting because it's all-encompassing. I think it's time for a rest."

As well as his duties as vicar, Paul's other community activities have included being a school governor since 1986, and chair of governors at Marwood Church of England Primary School, in Great Ayton, for 27 years.

He's also been editor of Spire, the church magazine, since 2009, and a regular contributor for years before that.

Paul's final service will be at Christ Church at 4pm this Sunday. It will be streamed on Facebook, and attended by the former Bishop of Whitby, his old friend, Gordon Bates, as well as the new Bishop, Barry Hill.

"It will be hard to let go because I've loved playing a part in the memorable occasions in so many people's lives," he says.

"The first christening I did was a baby boy, and the last christening I did was his niece, so I've seen a generation go by."

Paul has prepared for retirement by moving, with Karen and David, out of Great Ayton and into a house in Nunthorpe. The plan is to find more time for gardening, reading and catching up with friends.

This year's Great Ayton panto is Aladdin, but Paul won't be appearing in person. However, there is a character featuring a recording of his voice.

And, although life will be less hectic, he'll still be helping out at local churches, and continuing to give talks – with the help of his puppets – to local community groups looking to be entertained.

The Rev Paul Peverell describes himself as "a fairly ordinary vicar who just happened to stay a long time".

Magic tricks, comedy hats, puppets, and pantos – the 'fairly ordinary' Rev Pev is going to be a hard act to follow.

Oh, yes, he is!